A New Identity for Canada in a New Era

Canada faces a defining moment amid rapid global change. Canada risks falling behind unless we redefine our national identity to match new realities. Without a clear identity or global role, our policies will remain reactive and over-dependent on the United States. A new Canadian identity must reflect today’s societal realities, acknowledge the strategic threats we face, and recognize that resources must be aligned with national priorities – strengthening our security, economy, and independence.

For decades, Canada has settled into the role of a junior partner in global affairs – over-reliant on American defence and intelligence for our security, and on U.S. markets to sustain our economy. This dependence runs deeper than resources – it reflects our national identity. Canada has preferred comfort over bold action, when the world around us has changed.

Canada’s identity – rooted in social welfare, Medicare, multiculturalism, peacekeeping, and pride in being hard to define – drives policy choices that no longer align with the country’s long-term strategic and economic interests. Over the past decade, Canada has had the weakest per capita GDP growth in the G7, raising competitiveness concerns. Questions about the sustainability of Old Age Security and anxiety over the rising cost of living and retirement affordability grows. These challenges suggest Canada must re-evaluate its priorities to strengthen both its economic and defence capacities.

Meanwhile, our military readiness lags behind the threats we face in the Arctic, cyberspace, and outer space. Current defence pledges focus on GDP targets rather than strategic reform. Reclassifying Coast Guard spending as ‘defence’ will help meet NATO commitments on paper, but it does little to address real vulnerabilities or change Canada’s cultural view of defence.

If Canada wants to thrive in this new era of uncertainty and great power competition, minor tweaks to the status quo and creative accounting are not enough. We need to redefine our national identity to match the realities of today’s world. That starts with asking hard questions: How must our national identity change to meet future threats and ensure our long-term security and prosperity? How independent can we truly be? What are our core values? The answers should guide our defence, economic, and social priorities.

On defence, we must shift from a spending-based approach to a threat-based strategy – one that gives Canadian Forces the tools, infrastructure, and political backing to respond decisively. On the economy, we must diversify trade, boost productivity, and reduce dependence on any one country. In both areas, national strength must take precedence over comfort – even when it demands tough budget choices.

Reassessing social programs and Medicare requires a fundamental rethink of Canada’s identity and priorities. If Canada raises defence spending to 5% of GDP, diversifies its economy, and invests in major nation-building projects like energy infrastructure, it must confront a difficult reality: these goals require scaling back some social programs or raising taxes or debt. According to Statistics Canada, over 49% of government spending went towards social programs and healthcare in 2023. That is unsustainable if it harms Canada’s security or competitiveness.

Transforming Canada’s national identity must involve Canadians themselves. Political-civic engagement is the foundation for building consensus around a new vision. The Alberta Next panels, despite their less-than-favourable optics surrounding separatism, offer a glimpse of how this could work – engaging citizens on strengthening their province’s future within Canada. Imagine such forums on a national scale, asking Canadians what they want this country to be, not what they want it to provide to them. The growing need for integration and engagement comes at a time when a majority of Canadians support mandatory national service for young people, with nearly half backing mandatory military service, according to a recent Angus Reid poll.

Times of disruption create opportunities for bold change. Canada can emerge from this period as a more self-reliant, secure, and prosperous nation – but only if we seize the moment to redefine ourselves. That new identity will be clearer, more purposeful, and capable of uniting Canadians. If Canada wants to be a leader rather than a follower, the time for decisive action is now. The once-comfortable status quo is increasingly uncomfortable for Canada and Canadians.

Philip Acey is an independent political researcher and analyst. Connect with him on X: @Philipfficial